Evo Morales recants suggesting the creation of armed militias in Bolivia

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Bolivia asks Argentina to prevent "calls to violence" by Morales 1:40

(CNN Spanish) - The former president of Bolivia Evo Morales recants having suggested that “armed militias of the people” should be organized in his country as in Venezuela.

Morales said in a statement posted on his Twitter account on Thursday that his "deepest conviction has always been the defense of life and peace."

The ex-president also says he does not want "anything he says to be used as a pretext to persecute and repress my brothers and sisters."

Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric said in a press conference on Thursday that Morales' retraction "is irrelevant."

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In an event with the Bolivian community in Buenos Aires on Saturday, January 11, Morales recounted the acts of violence during the protests against him for allegations of electoral fraud, and said that “if from a short time, I do not know, if I would return, or someone come back, we must organize, as in Venezuela, armed militias of the people. ”

The commentary on armed militias was immediately rejected by the Government of the interim president of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez. Bolivia's Minister of Justice, Álvaro Eduardo Coimbra Cornejo, announced Monday that they would initiate criminal proceedings against Morales for his comments. The Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the Argentine Foreign Minister expressing concern about what Morales said.

I reaffirm my deepest conviction for life and for peace. pic.twitter.com/RGeGuavSv8

- Evo Morales Ayma (@evoespueblo) January 16, 2020

The Argentine Foreign Ministry, in charge of Felipe Solá, confirmed to CNN that there is no official response to the letter sent from Bolivia, while recalling that they have not recognized the interim government of Jeanine Añez, whom they consider "de facto".

Morales' suggestion was also not well received by some sectors in Argentina, where he has been isolated since December last year. The historic Argentine political party Radical Civic Union criticized the continued assimilation of Morales and said in a statement that his statements "undermine the peace and democracy of the neighboring country."

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Morales resigned from the presidency of Bolivia on November 10 after intense protests over allegations of electoral fraud in the presidential elections that gave him the winner for his fourth term and after the military asked him to resign.

Currently, it is required by the Bolivian authorities to respond to charges of sedition, terrorism and terrorist financing.

Evo Moralesmilicia